Chapter 53: Round Four (I)

  [Item Acquired: Time Plane Memory #7 – Added to Inventory]

  Coming out of the memory, I didn’t even know what to think. What to feel.

  The connections were deeper than I imagined.

  My mother hadn’t just known and assisted Valdemar. She trusted him enough to let him be that close to her daughter.

  And Thea…she looked terrible in this memory too – bruised, shaking – but infinitely better than in the previous memory. I now finally had a clear image of her face.

  She didn’t just know Valdemar as “a friend of Mom”. She knew who he was behind the mask. She’d endured torture to keep him safe. She even said she loved him.

  Just who the fuck was he to her?

  For a second, I almost considered the possibility that Stanford wasn’t actually her real father…but that didn’t feel right.

  Anyway, safe or not, she was with Valdemar. That meant that looking for her would be the same as looking for Valdemar. Which, in turn, meant…good luck.

  His voice, though…that unmodulated voice. I tried to recall if I ever heard it before, but no one came to mind. The only thing I could say for sure is that the conspiracists who claimed Valdemar was actually a woman under the mask were factually wrong.

  Other things about the memory left me unsettled too – Dr. Skarn, for one. I remembered him from my psych evaluation at that same asylum two years ago. Apparently, he was Valdemar’s man.

  And then there was that other guy – Riven. He seemed close to Valdemar as well. They mentioned getting “everyone’s blood before the End Date”…what was that all about?

  Well…there wasn’t much to go by from these memories. Only more and more questions.

  Maybe my past selves already pieced these things together even without watching the Memory Fragments. Maybe that’s why they directed me to Blackthorn.

  Before I could spiral further, I was violently yanked by the collar of my jacket.

  “Halegrim, I told you to fuck off already!” Devin barked, nose practically pressed to my face.

  His COG was inches from my cheek.

  I glanced at it.

  [12:09]

  Fifteen minutes then…

  Still gripping me by the collar, Devin shoved me toward the cell door. “Go, already!”

  I caught myself on the bars, steadied, and turned around. Then walked right back to the metallic bench and sat down.

  “You can prolong my arrest,” I said, shrugging. “We both know that’s a dream come true for you.”

  Devin’s anger flared. He enjoyed being a bully, but only when it was on his terms.

  “You think I won’t do it, fucker?!” he snapped. “I will!”

  I met his gaze. He didn’t scare me anymore. The Crow was far more terrifying.

  “Do it, pussy,” I muttered, already tired of the exchange.

  He stormed toward the door, locking the cell behind him with a violent clang. “Kiss your freedom goodbye, moron!”

  Then he vanished down the hall.

  I exhaled, glance falling to my cellmate. The junkie woman was still curled up in the corner, shaking. She hadn’t even reacted to the shouting.

  I felt bad for dragging her into this – the Crow situation was way too dangerous especially knowing he didn’t care about civilians, but I didn’t have a choice.

  Hopefully, she’ll be smart enough to run if shit hits the fan. And at least she was too out of it to react in any way to what I was about to do.

  I summoned my COG and it materialized inside my left hand. I quickly buckled it to my right arm. The needles kicked in, piercing my arm before activation.

  Once it was set, I decided to test something.

  I placed my left hand over the COG’s screen and mentally commanded: Store.

  As expected, the bracer vanished straight from my arm and into the Inventory.

  Now for the real test.

  I summoned it again. It appeared – once more – in my left hand.

  Damn.

  I was hoping it’d remember its last placement and reappear strapped to my arm. That would’ve been a game changer – just summon it to my arm mid-motion, already activated.

  Well, not like I planned to use the COG against the Crow anyway. Magic wouldn’t work on him. Not with his suit.

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  The Armor-Piercer was my only shot.

  I extended my hand forward and summoned the weapon. It appeared in my grip with a familiar grip – thanks to Déjà vu. I immediately moved my finger to the trigger – testing the motion and my speed.

  “Too slow…” I muttered.

  I sent the gun back into the Inventory. Then summoned it again with my arm already extended, moving my finger to the trigger. This time was faster, but then it hit me –

  If I extended my hand before summoning, someone as battle-hardened as an Obsidian Crow might see the danger coming. He might dodge.

  I had to tighten the timing.

  Arm extends as the gun appears. Then comes the trigger pull. All in one fluid motion.

  I started drilling the move, over and over. Trying to find the rhythm. Trying to make it seamless.

  By the time the COG’s screen showed [12:22], I knew time was almost up. But I was fairly confident with what I achieved in these thirteen minutes. More repetitions wouldn’t make a real difference when there were only two minutes left.

  I popped open the magazine and saw there was only one bullet out of the two left. I swapped it for a fresh, fully loaded one. Something told me that I won’t get to shoot more than twice against this guy. There won't be any room for reloads in the close quarters of this cell.

  Taking a deep breath, I sent the Armor-Piercer back into the Inventory.

  Then, as I considered using the remaining time to calm my nerves, curiosity got the better of me.

  I summoned ZK-0.

  A dog-shaped automaton appeared on the cell floor before me. I flinched. Even my junkie cellmate jolted, shrinking deeper into her corner. Apparently, she was watching me the entire time.

  The machine wasn’t hostile. It simply sat there, mechanical head tilted up at me, as if awaiting a command.

  I scanned it with my COG.

  [ZK-0: Level – 33]

  Okay, past Viktors…what the fuck did you do?

  “Stand,” I said cautiously.

  It stood.

  “Sit.”

  It obeyed again.

  I nodded slowly, still baffled. An entire automaton…in the Inventory? And it was obeying...me?

  What else can it do?

  BOOM – a loud roar thundered outside the station.

  He’s close.

  I instantly stored the COG again. No need to give him any reason to suspect anything.

  Then my eyes fell on ZK-0. It was listening to my commands – for some reason - but could I trust it to cover me?

  No…probably not. And if the Crow saw it, he’d know something was off.

  I was about the send it back to the Inventory, but something stopped me. A gut feeling.

  “I need to hide you somewhere…” I muttered, scanning the cell.

  I could probably order it to lie under the bench and sit in front to block the view.

  But before I could try that, it disappeared – entering camouflage.

  Déjà vu rang in mind. Yup…it could always do that.

  “Stay hidden,” I ordered, curiosity long replaced by survival instinct.

  I could only hope it understood…and wouldn’t screw everything up.

  Another BOOM. The ground trembled.

  He’d landed.

  Okay, one last mental rundown:

  Wait here. If he goes the violent path and attacks the Enforcers, all the better – he’ll be a lot more tired than he already was after his high-speed flight. If not, no problem.

  When he reaches the cell, I summon the sword. His weird code of honor will kick in, forcing him to duel me instead of just murdering me outright.

  Then he’ll enter the cell.

  Once he’s close enough, I summon the Armor-Piercer exactly like I practiced. Arm out. Gun summoned mid-motion. Finger on the trigger the moment it materializes. Then – BANG.

  And for extra measure…I’ll use Slow. Make sure the shot lands.

  There’s no way he survives this. I have everything I need to win.

  If he enters the station peacefully, I assume most of the Enforcers will follow him here. If that happens, I’ll need to summon my COG right after I take him out and create an exit for myself through the wall or something – because killing an Obsidian Crow would definitely trigger a “shoot to kill” order.

  I took a deep breath.

  I’m ready. Or at least as ready as I’ll ever be.

  A minute later came the footsteps – heavy metallic clinks against the tiled floor.

  I could hear commotion too. My guess? In his weakened state – unable to use mana crystals with an overheated COG – he decided not to fight the whole station, but he wasn’t exactly talkative either. He was coming straight for me, saying nothing to anyone, grabbing all the attention.

  I was right.

  He entered the holding cells wing, followed by five Enforcers of various ranks. Even the Chief of the station – recognizable by her unique uniform – was among them. Devin was there as well.

  “Sir, can you please share what’s going on here?” the Chief asked. “I understand it might be confidential, but – “

  The Crow stopped abruptly, snapping toward her. “Don’t interfere.”

  The entire group of Enforcers recoiled, stepping back.

  “U-understood,” the Chief stammered, saluting him – the Obsidian Crows were ranked higher than any Enforcer in the Ironwatch Constabulary. I mean, they were operating directly under Prime Security.

  The Chief and her men stayed near the entrance of the wing as he walked on, heading straight toward my cell.

  Good. As long as they stayed there, I should have enough time to equip my COG and escape.

  I took another deep breath and summoned my last Foldable Sword, raising awed reactions from the Enforcers. I flicked it open with a sharp move of my right hand.

  The Crow halted by the cell door.

  “So, a fighter?” he said.

  The same line as last time. That made sense – Chronos did say the Checkpoint worlds were his creations. Logically, this guy shouldn’t remember anything from our last fight even if he was the second looper.

  I nodded. “Care to give me an honorable exit?”

  “It’s your funeral,” he muttered, reaching for the terminal and unlocking the cell.

  The door slid open.

  So far, so good.

  My heart was pounding like never before, but I found my voice.

  “Close the cell, please. I don’t want anyone helping you.”

  He gave a low chuckle. “I don’t think I’ll need help for this.”

  “You said it’s my funeral, right? Honor the deceased's request.”

  He tilted his head slightly. For a second, I thought he might shoot my brains out right then and there.

  I had no idea where this boldness was coming from. Just yesterday – seventeen loops ago – I would’ve never dared to speak like that to anyone, let alone to an Obsidian Crow.

  Yet here I am.

  Was I still under the influence of…what did they call it?

  Loop Drift.

  “Brave,” he finally said, slamming the door locked behind him. “Request granted.”

  He extended his armblade. “Let’s get this over with.”

  “Watch out for my cellmate over there,” I said, motioning toward the junkie in the corner, trying to throw him off.

  It didn’t work.

  He glanced over like he hadn’t even noticed her until now. “Trash like her don’t deserve to live anyway.”

  Then he stepped forward.

  When he got close just enough, I took a step forward myself, extending my left arm – and at the same time, summoned the loaded Armor-Piercer, just as I had practiced. My finger moved to the trigger as the gun appeared in my grasp.

  With my arm almost fully extended, I commanded Slow.

  The world lurched. Everything slowed. The Crow stood practically motionless, caught mid-step. The gun was leveled at his face. My finger was already on the trigger.

  Everything played out perfectly.

  All I had to do was pull.

  But then I saw it – a faint orange aura creeping over his armor, disregarding Slow completely.

  He reacted before I activated Slow.

  I assumed his COG was overheated from the flight because he hadn't used any crystals last time, but I was wrong.

  I immediately pulled the trigger.

  The moment the bullet left the barrel, time snapped back to normal – and to my complete shock, the Kinetra-enhanced Obsidian Crow jerked his head sideways with inhuman speed, narrowly dodging the point-blank shot.

  Then, without hesitation, he swung his armblade at me.